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Shortening hours for UTC is disappointing

Posted on:Tue, 01/15/2019 - 19:16By:webmin

KOTA KINABALU, January 14, 2019: The Federal Ministry of Finance has ordered all UTCs nationwide to shorten their operating hours starting on 22nd of this month, an action which is equivalent to canceling the service that is benefiting to the people.

Chin Vui Kai, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) information chief said: "The people have yet to see any plan which is beneficial to the people now prepared to lose their existing rights. It is really disappointing."

He pointed out that since UTC was established in Kota Kinabalu, Keningau and Tawau, it has been operating from 8 am to 9 pm, allowing people, largely the employees to conveniently process their official documentations after general office hours.

“The ministry’s plan to shorten UTC operating hours, which open only from 8 am to 5 pm, will affect millions of people in the country. Whereas this practice of operating from 8 am to 5 pm only applicable during Ramadan month, before the new instructions by MOF.”

He said that many local media have visited UTCs and found that there are high number of visitors to UTC between 5 pm to 9 pm, it proves that there is great demand during the evening operation time.

Chin issued a statement today stressing that the people’s expectation for the new government to continue the good projects and policies, to rectify deficiencies, instead of blindly retaliating and chopping all former government measures.

He stated that the federal government should not deprive the Sabah people of the right to convenient and efficient public services and not to add more burden to the people of Sabah.

"If the Federal Ministry of Finance is unwilling to retain UTC operating hours in Sabah, they should expedite to return 40% federal tax payable to Sabah, and handover the management of UTC to Sabah government."

Chin reminded the Pakatan Harapan government, especially the Minister of Finance, Lim Guan Eng, do not forget the promises made to the Sabah people, by returning 20% oil royalty and 40% federal tax to Sabah.